“Arpit had large goals and was working arduous to make them come true. He needed to check in an enormous metropolis and we despatched him to Delhi. He was his mom’s favorite,” his father mentioned.
In a matter of minutes, the hopes and goals of 5 college students got here crashing down after a five-storey paying visitor lodging for boys collapsed in south-west Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday. One labourer, in addition to one man who nonetheless must be recognized, had been additionally killed within the incident. At the very least two persons are at present vital at AIIMS.
The incident, which passed off close to the guts of Delhi College’s south campus, has despatched shockwaves within the metropolis, reiterating the fragility of the Capital’s infrastructure, the shortage of correct regulatory norms, and laxity within the imposing those that exist.
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Arpit Jahaj, 18 – Scholar
Arpit had returned to the town from his hometown in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, simply hours earlier than the constructing got here down. “We had simply celebrated Rakshabandhan vacation collectively, noticed him pleased and playful, and now we’re seeing him as a lifeless physique,” mentioned his father, Bhupendra Jahaj, who works as a cab driver.
The 18-year-old was getting ready for the Chartered Accountancy examinations and was a second-year pupil on the Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma (ARSD) School.
“We received a name from Arpit’s good friend on Sunday evening concerning the constructing collapse and by the point we reached right here, nothing was left and he was gone,” his father recalled, standing exterior the mortuary of AIIMS trauma centre, ready to obtain his son’s final stays.
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His mates searched all evening for him within the stays of the constructing and solely later did they study that he had died. The hospital mentioned that they had acquired a physique matching the id. “However after we went to establish him, we couldn’t as a result of the physique was badly injured. Round 6.30 am (on Monday), the household reached the hospital and his mom recognized him by his delivery marks,” his good friend Yuvraj informed HT.
Arpit had been dwelling within the PG for practically one-and-a-half years. “Everyone seems to be telling us how dangerous the situation of the PG was. I want my son had informed me earlier than,” his father mentioned.
Following the postmortem, Arpit’s household donated his corneas on the hospital. “Perhaps he’ll be capable to see the world, even after he’s not with us.”
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Yuvraj Soni, 20 – Scholar
Like Arpit, Yuvraj was additionally a CA aspirant. He was a second-year pupil at Motilal Nehru School.
He had been dwelling within the north campus until just a few days in the past. “Yuvraj had simply moved to this PG and it took him away from us,” mentioned his good friend Aryan.
His sister Nikki and his brother Vivek had been on the hospital, however all they might do was categorical their shock and disbelief. That they had no phrases left with which to share the impression of the tragedy.
Akshat Singh Yadav, 18 – Scholar
Akshat, like many others within the nation, had spent the previous couple of days together with his household at house —for him, in Katni, Madhya Pradesh — for Rakshabandhan.
“The whole lot was regular for us. He had simply left house after a trip and was settling again into his routine, till we received a name from one among his mates telling us {that a} constructing collapse had occurred and Akshat had been injured,” mentioned his father Manta Singh Yadav.
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He was a second-year BCom pupil at PGDAV School. “Akshat has been dwelling on this PG since August 16, 2025. We didn’t know that the PG had structural issues. He by no means knowledgeable us,” his father added. “We assumed that our baby was secure away from us.”
Abhishek Kumar, 20 – Scholar
When Abhishek was pulled out from below the rubble, he had been unconscious. Hours later, he handed away on the hospital because of the severity of his accidents.
A local of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, he was two years into his BCom at Motilal Nehru School.
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Household good friend Krish Kandari alleged that the PG had all the time been in poor situation from inside. “I couldn’t keep there with him for even two days,” he mentioned. “There must be strict motion towards the PG homeowners and others answerable for the demise of my good friend and others.”
Krish had rushed to Delhi after studying of the accident. “We had all the time been collectively since childhood. He was like a brother to me.”
Pawan Kumar, 17 – Scholar
One of many youngest victims of the collapse, Pawan was a first-year BSc pupil at Motilal Nehru School. He belonged to Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh and, based on AIIMS officers, his household on Monday morning collected the physique after postmortem.
Surinder Singh, 75 – Labourer
Surinder was introduced lifeless to AIIMS on Sunday evening. A resident of Arjun Nagar in Delhi, he had been working as a labourer.
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Pawan Lal Kori, 30 – Labourer
Pawan was introduced lifeless to the hospital on Monday, officers mentioned.
Injured victims
A number of persons are at present present process therapy for numerous accidents at AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital.
Certainly one of them is 19-year-old Nitish Chib. The second-year Motilal Nehru School pupil is at present at AIIMS with accidents on the legs, shoulders, and head, his good friend Nitin Jamwal informed HT.
Jamwal (19), who can also be a second-year pupil on the similar school, mentioned they each hail from Jammu and he too had been staying on the similar hostel. Nonetheless, he moved two months in the past after some points with the meals that was served there.
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On the time of the collapse, Nitish was within the room together with his cousin and one other pupil, Neeraj Bawa, mentioned Jamwal. “Nitish informed me that proper earlier than the collapse occurred, he heard the sound of water dripping, earlier than the ground gave away. He was pulled out of the particles round 6:00pm,” he mentioned.
Neeraj and one other pupil, Asgar Ali (30), are in vital situation, based on hospital officers. “Most people I knew within the PG have handed away. Arpit was one among my mates. I have no idea what to say, because it feels very unusual that so many individuals I knew have died.”
In accordance with AIIMS officers, until late on Monday, 12 folks had been dropped at the hospital —six had been introduced lifeless and one succumbed to his accidents. Officers at Safdarjung mentioned three sufferers had been additionally acquired on the facility.